Hereford F.C.

Foundation

Following the winding up of Hereford United on 19 December 2014, the Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST) vowed to start a new phoenix club. Three days later, it emerged that local businessman Jon Hale, who had earlier been chairman of HUST, had registered the name Hereford Football Club with the Herefordshire County Football Association, in conjunction with the trust and a group of local businessmen. A press release followed on 24 December, outlining plans to let HUST members decide on the club's kits and crest. It also addressed the issue of the ownership structure, with the Hereford United Supporters Trust being given the opportunity to become the largest single shareholder, with individuals and corporate benefactors being barred from owning more than 49% of the new club. The press release stated that HUST's stake would be 'much more' than this.

The club's official website went live on 29 December and added further names to the group, with Phil Eynon, George Webb and Hugh Brooks being mentioned on the club's homepage. The website stated that once the club was fully organised, the Hereford United Supporters Trust chairman, Chris Williams, would be given the position of Vice Chairman. Hale gave an interview with Trevor Owens on BBC Hereford and Worcester on 3 January 2015, citing the reason for the business group's reluctance to engage with the final regime at Hereford United as the group benefactors all agreed that the financial position of Hereford United was untenable and the debt was too large to save the club. In an FAQ released on 13 January, it was revealed that Hale would be the club's chairman. It was confirmed at an open meeting two days later that Brooks would be the club's finance director, Webb would be the commercial director and Eynon would be governance director.

On 20 and 21 January, HUST members voted in favour of the proposal from the Hale group, with 96.71% voting to accept the plans. On 10 February, HUST confirmed that the Hereford FC bid had been the only approach submitted to them. Two weeks later, Herefordshire Council confirmed that the club had secured a five-year lease for the city's Edgar Street stadium.

On 27 February, the club announced that it was taking applications for the position of club manager. Forty-two people applied for the position and on 17 April 2015, Peter Beadle was announced to be the successful candidate by the board with his assistant to be Matt Bishop.

2015–16 season

On 14 May 2015, the FA confirmed that Hereford would compete in the Midland Football League Premier Division (9th tier) for the club's first season. As a consequence, this meant that the club were entered into the FA Vase and the Midland League Cup.

The first game, a pre-season friendly, took place away at Malvern Town on 7 July 2015, a 3–2 victory for Hereford, in front of a record crowd for the hosts. Four days later, Hereford hosted their first match, a friendly against FC United of Manchester at Edgar Street, with Nathan Hughes scoring the only goal in a victory watched by around 4,250 spectators. They won 4–1 against Dunkirk in their first league match on 8 August, in front of a crowd of 4,062; this broke the league record attendance of 1,280, and was higher than four attendances that day in Football League One.

On 10 December 2015, while in first place in the league, the club announced that they had applied for promotion to the Southern Football League for the 2016–17 season. The league campaign had started with a shaky start, but they managed to put together a long winning run, which eventually came to an end after 27 wins in a row, in a 1–1 draw at home to Alvechurch on 23 January 2016, and the unbeaten run of 34 games came to an end on 23 February, following a 2–0 loss at home to Highgate United.

Hereford broke their attendance record again in the FA Vase semi-final first leg against Salisbury on 12 March. Hereford won 1–0 in front of a record crowd of 4,683. On 25 April, Hereford clinched the league title following a 4–0 away win at Coventry Sphinx and were subsequently promoted to the Southern League South and West division. A week later, the club picked up their second trophy, the Herefordshire County Cup, following a 5–1 win over Westfields. Hereford secured their third trophy of the season, the Midland Football League Cup, on 10 May, following a 3–1 win over Walsall Wood at Solihull Moors' Damson Park. On 22 May, Hereford lost 4-1 in the FA Vase Final to Morpeth Town at Wembley Stadium.

2016–17 season

On 12 May 2016, it was confirmed that Hereford would compete in the Southern League South and West, following their promotion from the Midland Football League Premier. The season would see the club make their first appearance in both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy. It was announced on 24 May, that assistant manager Matt Bishop would be leaving the club, and he was replaced by Steve Jenkins on 30 May. The club decided to withdraw from the Southern League Cup in an attempt to focus on the league. The club went out of the FA Cup at the third qualifying round at Tonbridge Angels and exited the FA Trophy in the preliminary round at Salisbury. On 12 October, the club announced that manager Peter Beadle had signed his first contract with the club, on a rolling 12-month deal. On 19 October, it was announced that Chairman Jon Hale had stepped down and was to be replaced in the interim by Chris Williams, who was replaced by Ken Kinnersley on 3 January 2017.

On 4 March 2017 their away match against Didcot Town had to be abandoned after Hereford fans invaded the pitch and allegedly attacked Didcot players. Two men from Hereford were later arrested.

Crest

It was announced on 1 March 2015, that 89% of the 900+ HUST members that voted, chose a badge designed by Huw Marriott, and his sons Max and Louis.

Colours

On 5 May 2015, it was announced that the club had signed a two-year kit deal with Italian manufacturer Macron. A vote was cast for the away colours, with a red and black striped kit being chosen by HUST members.

The club's current shirt sponsors are Jewson and a local company, Furniture Importers.

On 25 March 2016, Hereford announced that their deal with Macron had been extended by 2 years, with a new home kit in 2016–17 alternating seasonally with the away kit.

Hereford also have a yellow and black third kit in order to avoid kit clashes.

Support

Hereford's fanzine is called Talking Bull.

During Hereford's inaugural season they averaged a league attendance of 2,836, a figure higher than six Football League Two sides.

Rivalries

Local rivals Shrewsbury Town and Cheltenham Town arguably remain the main rivals, as they had been during the time of Hereford United. The A49 derby with Shrewsbury is listed as nineteenth in The Daily Telegraph's twenty fiercest rivalries in English football.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Honours

Club Records

First competitive fixture: vs Dunkirk (8 August 2015)

First competitive win: 4–1 vs Dunkirk (8 August 2015)

Record home attendance: 4,683 including 537 away supporters vs Salisbury (FA Vase) (12 March 2016)

Record home league attendance: 4,406 including 340 away supporters vs Evesham United (2nd January 2017)

Lowest home league attendance: 2,006 vs Lye Town (22 September 2015)

Most consecutive wins (all competitions): 27 games (August 2015 - January 2016)

Most games unbeaten (all competitions): 33 games (August 2015 - January 2016)

Biggest win: 8–0 vs Heanor Town (23 April 2016)

Biggest home win: 8–0 vs Heanor Town (23 April 2016)

Biggest home league win: 8–0 vs Heanor Town (23 April 2016)

Biggest away win: 6–0 vs Walsall Wood (29 September 2015)

Biggest away league win: 6–0 vs Walsall Wood (29 September 2015)

Record FA Cup performance: Third Qualifying Round (2016-2017)

Record FA Trophy performance: Preliminary Round (2016-2017)

Record FA Vase performance: Runners Up (2015-2016)

In popular culture

On 21 April 2015, it was announced that Hereford would be the default team on the new edition of mobile game Football Chairman.